Daniel Vancsik from Argentina is in command of the Tusker Kenya Open at Karen near Nairobi after opening a three-stroke lead at the halfway mark.

A second round 68 allied to an opening 66 leaves him on 134, six under par, with four players sharing second place three strokes behind.

Vancsik, who is seeking his third Challenge Tour victory, is in supreme form, having carded his 68 in the afternoon when a blustery wind descended on the Karen course.

But perhaps it is no surprise that the man from Buenos Aires is in such a strong position. Conditions in the afternoon were akin to those in South America, hot and blustery while the kikuyu grass is something he is used to.

The 28 year old made no headway with a front nine of 36 but he came home in 32, collecting three of his four birdies on that stretch.

Many of those close to Vancsik after round one slipped back while most of the other low scores were secured before lunch when conditions were much easier.

A best-of-the-day 64 allowed Italy’s Michele Reale to climb to joint second spot on 137, alongside Anton Haig from South Africa with 65 and Spain’s Alvaro Salto (70) and Carl Suneson (67), all morning starters.

Reale’s 64 contained seven birdies and just one dropped shot but it was Haig’s card that was something to behold.

It contained ten birdies, five bogeys and just three pars. His front nine of 32 was made up of six birdies and three bogeys, while the pars came in three successive holes from the 13th.

Paul Dwyer, the 31 year old, is the highest placed Briton, who matched Vancsik’s 68 for a halfway total of 138 and a share of sixth place with South African James Kamte, the joint overnight leader with Vancsik, who went round in 72, and Miguel Rodriguez, who shot 71.

A total of 66 players on five over par 145 or better made the cut.

One who didn’t was Martin Wiegele from Austria, who needed a birdie at the 18th to survive. But in going for it he ran up a quadruple bogey nine for a 74 and 150.